Russian Openings

Excerpts from Diplomacy A-Z

THE SHARP SYSTEM FOR NAMING RUSSIAN OPENINGS

Russia has more possible opening moves than any other power. In order to produce a rationalised system for naming Russian openings, Richard Sharp introduced the following five-point plan:

1. F StP/sc-Fin is considered to be a move to BOT.
2. F StP/sc H openings are known as the "Northern Houseboat Opening."
3. F StP/sc-Lvn is known as the "Kronstadt Opening."
4. Misordered units are considered to have been ordered to hold.
5. Openings are named after the order of A Mos. There are therefore six systems: The Inertia System, the Livonia System, the Northern System, Southern System, the Ukraine System, and the Warsaw System. Where the alternative F BLA-Rum is possible these are known as the BLA/Rum variation.

AUSTRIAN ATTACK

Russia's second most popular opening: A Mos-Ukr, A War-Gal, F Sev-Rum, generally means that Russia is confident he has a Turkish ally against Austria. A drawback is that the fleet in Rum is poorly placed.

GERMAN ATTACK

Any Russian opening based on A War-Sil. This usually only makes sense as a part of a blitz, or if the players are fairly certain that Germany will be opening anti-Russian.

INERTIA SYSTEM

Richard Sharp's name for the Russian opening: F StP/sc-Fin/BOT, A Mos H. There is one named variant: A War-Ukr, the Ukraine variant.

LAPLAND LURCH

The F StP/sc-Fin opening. If Russia anticipates both A Nor-Fin and F Den-Swe in S02 (after a F01 standoff in Swe), F Fin can block both, but F BOT cannot. If Russia anticipates Germany building F Kie in W01, F Fin is much less threatening, making it much easier for Germany to move against England.

LIVONIAN LUNACY

Russia's F StP/sc-Lvn opening. If Russia wishes to distract Germany away from F Den-Swe in F01 with a threat to the Baltic, Lvn is a better place to make the threat, since it has no other good place to go. See DW #27.

LIVONIAN SYSTEM

(1) A set of Russian moves based on A Mos/War-Livonia in Spring 1901 followed by F BOT C Lvn-Mos in Autumn 1901. Popularized by Don Turnbull in an article on playing Russia published in Games & Puzzles.

In the northern variation, Russia opens A War-Lvn and A Mos-StP and then A StP-Fin, giving up to three units bearing on Norway in Spring 1902 -- but at the expense of serious exposure on the Southern Flank. This may be acceptable if Austria can be relied on to contain Turkey, but the lack of influence on Rumania deprives Russia of the near certainty of a build. In the more cautious southern version, therefore A Mos moves to Ukraine.

At the time that Turnbull recommended this opening, the common opening move for F Kie was to Hol; it was unusual for Germany to move to Den. It was even more unusual for Germany to stand Russia out of Swe. Hence, Russian players expected to take Swe in Autumn 1901 as a matter of course. It was common for Russia to have 6 centres at the end of 1901, having taken Rum and Swe, and not unusual for Russia to be on 7, taking an Austrian centre as a result of Austria opening with a Balkan Gambit and allowing Russia into Gal in Spring 1901. So the move to Lvn with intent to convoy to Swe is not as strange as first appears.

(2) In Richard Sharp's rationalised system for naming Russian openings, the Livonian system refers to any Russian opening using the moves F StP/sc-Fin/BOT and A Mos-Lvn. There are two named variations: the Galician Variation and the Silesian Variation.

NORTHERN OPENING

No annotation.

GALICIA VARIATION

A War-Gal, F Sev-Rum, A Mos-StP is the most pro-Turkey of all the StP Gambit openings. Following Richard Sharp's rationalization of Russian openings in the 1980's this is properly called the Northern System, Galicia variation; Rumania variation.

UKRAINE VARIATION

A War-Ukr, F Sev-Rum, A Mos-StP. This is about the lowest profile Russia can keep in the South and still send an army there, and may indicate Russia believes that there is triple R-A-T alliance to be had. Following Richard Sharp's rationalization of Russian openings in the 1980's this is properly called the Northern System, Ukraine/Rumania variation.

NORTHERN SYSTEM

Richard Sharp's name for any Russian opening using the moves F StP/sc-Fin/BOT and A Mos-StP. There are six named variations:

1. the Galician (A War-Gal, F Sev-Rum)
2. the Northern Opening (A War-Lvn)
3. the Octopus (A War-Gal, F Sev-BLA)
4. the Silesian (A War-Sil)
5. the Squid (A War-Ukr, F Sev-BLA)
6. the Ukraine (A War-Ukr, F Sev-Rum)

OCTOPUS

(1) A Mos-StP, A War-Gal, F Sev-BLA appears to be very belligerent. But the southern moves can be sold as defensive measures to compensate for the fact that only one army is sent south. Neither Turkey nor Austria should feel seriously threatened, as you have apparently moved on the other as well, and a joint attack on both Austria and Turkey hardly seems likely if you are also moving to StP. Often, at least one of these will be an arranged standoff. A favourite of Richard Sharp's. See also Squid.

(2) A Russian opening named by Richard Sharp which combines a strong defense in the south with an uncommonly powerful assault on Scandinavia. The name presumably derives from the way the opening exploits Russia's interests in so many spheres, spreading tentacles into several areas: the moves are A Mos-StP, A War-Gal, F Sev-BLA and F StP/sc-GOB. The Russian player who opens with this can expect to upset England, who usually looks to Norway as his only guaranteed build -- in a game with an Octopus, only a full blown Northern Opening (F Lon-NTH, F Edi-NWG, A Lon-Yor) from England will do. A variation of this opening, also named by Richard Sharp, is the Squid, which takes on both the corner powers with A War-Ukr.

RUMANIAN OPENING

The extremely southern commitment which sees Russia occupy Rumania, Ukraine, and Sevastopol. Thought anti-Austrian, but in fact is non-committal and mainly defensive (hence the choice of Ukraine over Galicia). Mos-Sev protects against a Turkish attack, and Rumania can be given two supports if Austria and Turkey are mobilizing to attack the Bear (which still might not be enough to keep the center, but it's as good as you can get).

SOUTHERN SYSTEM

Richard Sharp's name for any Russian opening using the moves F StP/sc-Fin/BOT and A Mos-Sev. There are five named variations:

1. the Inertia Variation (A War H)
2. the Noah's Ark Variation (A War-Ukr, F Sev-Arm)
3. the Rumanian Opening (F Sev-Rum)
   • the Rumanian Opening Proper (A War-Ukr)
   • the Galician Variation (A War-Gal)
   • the Silesian Variation (A War-Sil)
4. the Turkish Attack (A War-Ukr, F Sev-BLA)
5. the Ukraine variation (A War-Ukr, F Sev-BLA)

TURKISH ATTACK

Russia's third most popular opening, A War-Ukr, A Mos-Sev, F Sev-BLA. This will turn out badly if Turkey orders F Ank-BLA (thus stalling two units) or if Austria enters Gal. Russia retains his options to either press an attack on Turkey, or content himself with Rum, and use F BLA to try to keep the upper hand in any subsequent R-T alliance.

UKRAINE SYSTEM

Richard Sharp's name for any Russian opening involving the moves F StP/sc-Fin/BOT, A Mos-Ukr. There are five named variations:

1. the Austrian Attack (A War-Gal, F Sev-Rum)
2. the Livonia Variation (A war-Lvn)
3. the Silesian Variation (A War-Sil)
4. the Southern Defence (A War-Gal, F Sev-BLA)
5. the Southern Houseboat Variation (A War-Gal, F Sev H)

WARSAW SYSTEM

Richard Sharp's name for the openings involving F StP/sc-Fin/BOT and A Mos-War. There are three named variations:

1. the Galician (A War-Gal)
2. the Silesian (A War-Sil)
3. the Ukraine (A War-Ukr)

Excerpts from the Player's Guide

GENERAL COMMENT

F StP/sc-BOT is the only reasonable opening for that unit. The alternatives, to Finland or Livonia, accomplish nothing. Put the fleet in its proper place: on water.

OPENING 1: [A Mos-Ukr; A War-Gal; F Sev-Rum; F StP/sc-BOT]

Russia must usually choose between a northern or southern strategy. This means putting her eggs in the appropriate basket. Here she is allied with Turkey against Austria. If there is a stand-off in Galicia or Rumania, there will be support for the same order in the Fall.

OPENING 2: [A Mos-Sev; A War-Ukr; F Sev-BLA; F StP/sc-BOT]

This is the anti-Turkish opening. In the Fall, A Sev-Arm promises to give the Sultan apoplexy. It also leaves Sev open for the build of a second fleet. If the Turks order F Ank-BLA they will be stood off. The fleet can then move to Rumania with support from Ukraine in the Fall again leaving Sev open for a second fleet. Some players prefer the alternative F Sev-Rum in the Spring. This is weaker, but does insure that A Mos-Sev succeeds so that Armenia may be threatened. However, this creates a guessing game around Rumania and Sevastopol if Turkey opens F Ank-BLA, A Con-Bul. It's even worse if Turkey also opens A Smy-Arm.

OPENING 3: [A Mos-StP; A War-Lvn; F Sev-Rum; F StP/sc-BOT]

This is a Northern attack, against England. If Russia puts her eggs in that basket, she may as well trust Turkey and get into Rumania. Even if the Turks take Sevastopol, Russia may be able to make peace and concentrate on a northern offensive. There is nothing wrong with a Russo-Turkish alliance even when the Turks are overly greedy in the South. This opening threatens to keep England out of Norway while convoying an army into Sweden. To be really diabolical, order A StP-Fin, A Lvn-BOT-Swe, and build F StP/nc.

OPENING 4: [A Mos-Lvn; A War-Ukr; F Sev-Rum; F StP/sc-BOT]

This is a deliberately neutral opening and is more effective than it looks. Russia hopes for two new centers and positions her armies to cover her home centers in case of attack. At the same time, she will have a number of offensive options in Fall 1901 (A Lvn-Swe or -Pru; A Ukr-Gal).

OPENING 5: [A Mos-War; A War-Sil; F Sev-BLA; F StP/sc-BOT]

This is an anti-German opening. A Wal-Sil is preferable to A War-Pru because it threatens 2 supply centers. The other army can cover Warsaw, or attack Prussia, or move to Sweden. In the last instance, F BOT-BAL is a killer in 1902. On occasion, Russia just gives up Sweden and moves F BOT-BAL in Fall 1901. Watch the German player have fits when that happens.

OPENING 6: [A Mos-StP; A War-Gal; F Sev-Rum; F StP/sc-BOT]

In this opening, Russia has simply not made up her mind. She is going after Austria and England at the same time. If she has alliances with France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey, these are not bad orders. They make the most of Russia's unique position on the board.

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